QRO’s review of Wilco at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on February 5th, 2016
Photos of Wilco at 2015 80/35 Festival in Des Moines, IA
QRO’s review of Wilco at Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on October 30th, 2014
Photos of Wilco at 2014 Lockn Festival in Arrington, VA
Photos of Wilco at Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA on July 20th, 2013
Photos of Wilco from 2012 Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery
Photos of Wilco from ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX on December 1st, 2011
QRO’s review of Wilco at Central Park SummerStage in New York, NY on September 22nd, 2011
QRO’s review of Wilco at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR on February 9th, 2010
QRO’s review of Wilco at KeySpan Ballpark on Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY on July 13th, 2009
It was just last year that Wilco surprised fans by releasing a free album on the internet, Star Wars (QRO review). The record exceeded (admittedly lowered) expectations, especially once played in full on their subsequent tour (QRO live review). Now Wilco has surprised with a quick follow-up, the intimate Schmilco. It does hew a little too closely to being relaxed and quiet, but is another sweet Wilco record.
For a band that might as well be the definition of ‘alt-country’, Wilco can vary in style, but on Schmilco, it is the up-close, quiet intimacy that runs throughout the whole album. This leads to some really enjoyable pieces, such as the kid story “Normal American Kids”, rock-ditty charm “Someone to Lose”, and the mix of charm & wistful, “We Aren’t the World (Safety Girl)”. However, it does make the record feel a bit one-note, all folk, no rock.
After Star Wars being more than a digital afterthought, it is a little disappointing that ‘regular’ album Schmilco is similarly less-than-fully ambitious, from a band that has been ambitiously great. But expectation quibbles aside, Schmilco is a sweet little album from a very sweet, big band.
